ANA Cargo, Nippon Cargo Airlines and NCA Japan merge to become ANA Nippon Cargo

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

ANA Holdings has announced the name of its new merged cargo airline, which is set to launch on 1 April 2027, under the brand "ANA Nippon Cargo."

While the official corporate name will be "ANA Nippon Cargo Airlines Co., Ltd.," the company will initially retain the existing name "Nippon Cargo Airlines Co., Ltd." The full corporate name change is expected to take place in the second half of the 2027 fiscal year or later, subject to government approval.

The new airline is formed through the merger of three cargo business units under ANA Holdings: ANA Cargo, Nippon Cargo Airlines, and NCA Japan.

This integration—first announced in March 2026—is part of a broader initiative by ANA Holdings to strengthen its position in the global air cargo market.

**How ​​the three business units are merging**

Each of the three business units brings distinct capabilities to the new airline.

ANA Cargo has managed international air cargo sales and mail operations since 2013; Nippon Cargo Airlines, established in 1978, is a specialized cargo carrier with scheduled and non-scheduled cargo networks; and NCA Japan, a subsidiary of Nippon Cargo Airlines established in 2006, handles warehousing and cargo processing operations.

The combined cargo airline will have a workforce of over 2,100 employees and a sales network spanning cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Chicago, New York, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.

Nippon Cargo Airlines will serve as the surviving operating entity, retaining its air transport business license and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) following the merger.

"ANA Nippon Cargo": Reflecting a unified identity and "Japanese quality" standards

ANA Holdings stated that the new name and brand reflect three elements: the unified identity of the ANA Group; pride in the "Japanese quality" of its service standards; and a commitment to continued growth based on the combined expertise of the three business units.

The inclusion of "Cargo Airlines" in the corporate name is intentional, signaling that it is a specialized cargo carrier that owns its own aircraft and bears direct responsibility for safety and service. ANA Holdings has set a target of generating ¥30 billion ($195 million) in integration and synergy benefits as part of its medium-term corporate strategy, with cargo restructuring viewed as a key driver for achieving this goal.

By combining Nippon Cargo Airlines' specialized cargo network with ANA's international passenger network, ANA Holdings aims to become Asia's leading combination carrier.

Integration efforts are already underway

ANA Holdings has initiated the integration process ahead of the official merger date in April 2027.

Since April 2026, the company has unified its international cargo sales structure, allowing customers to use a single point of contact across the entire network, regardless of which carrier operates the flight.

Warehouse operations have also been consolidated at Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) and Kansai International Airport (KIX), enabling centralized cargo drop-off and pickup. Inbound cargo handling at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) was also merged as part of these early integration efforts.

ANA stated that further details regarding the new brand will be announced prior to the launch in April 2027.